A special Mother's Day issue, no recipes, no food and no dishes (cuz someone else has organized the cookin' today, right?) but a photo essay I'm calling "Wear the Hat, Dammit". I'll be back next week with the usual spring recipe ideas so if that's what you're after, Happy Mother's Day and just go on back to what you were doin', okay? But for anyone who's curious ...

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ... a Special Mother's Day Issue

About the Photo By Popular Request, a Little Insight into the Top Image: ...

Our next-door neighbors in Minnesota, three moms, two grandmothers and one great-grandmother. Our families have been close for 60+ years. Back in the day, there was even plan to "swap sisters". I love the sheer joy in the faces of these three beautiful women, also how, if you look closely, each one is looking in a different direction!

Does anyone else save random good photos of favorite people off Facebook? That's where this one comes from and it makes me smile, every time.

Wear the Hat, DAMMIT

Yep, we're taking a break from the kitchen today for a look at hats from the Kentucky Derby. Not interested? No problem. I'll be back with recipes again next week.

The First Saturday in May

In usual years, the first Saturday in May is a day cloaked in the pomp and circumstance of the Kentucky Derby, an iconic American experience. Each country, each state, each city and even each culture has its own iconic experiences but the Derby, well, it's one of ours.

You might know the Derby for ...

... the roses

... the grand spectacle

... the mint juleps

But The Real Stars Are the Hats!

From the wonders of aerodynamics ...

... to the simple broad brims.

From butterflies ...

... to bird feathers.

There are white hats ...

... and black hats ...

There are orange hats.

There are pink hats.

There are even guy hats!

There are flowers and feathers and ribbons of every hue ...

... and even whole gardens on a single hat.

And Where There Are Killer Hats, There Are K-I-L-L-E-R Shoes.

Literally. (Well, not literally ...)

But achin' feet.

Achin', achin' feet.

So Skip the Killer Shoes. But Wear the Hat, DAMMIT.

I just know my mom would've given this hatless young Derby-goer a talkin' to.

Because my mom, well, she had a sense of style and she wanted everyone to express their own style.

And maybe especially her daughters.

One year, I starting a new job at a just-funded start-up, lots of responsibility, lots of people, lots of fun. Those were challenges enough but what the heck would I wear??? I had a closetful of stuff from another era clothes-wise, suits, hose and heels. But this was high tech in the early 2000s and offices were determinedly casual because a casual workplace (open floor plans, ping pong tables, workout rooms, snack rooms with Goldfish and Twizzlers and Mountain Dew) was more productive, more fun and so of course, the dress code was casual.

Casual for guys? Khakis or jeans with a button-down shirt. Casual for professional women? Ugh. There was no such thing.

But mom had an idea and off we went to shop at Chico's, a new store near their place in Florida, she thought I'd like it. And so I did ... wow, was Chico's ever useful back then. I don't know how many pieces I bought but they were all separates and mixed and matched and the clothes were comfortable and drapey and looked sharp with jewelry but didn't shout "fashion" either.

I was all worn out from trying on so many things when Mom threw a hat onto the pile. "No hats, Mom!" I said, rolling my eyes. But she insisted and we'd been having so much fun, I relented.

A few weeks later, I had a flight booked back to Florida for another visit. On the phone, Mom asked if I were going to wear the hat on the plane. I hemmed and hawed. "Wear the hat, DAMMIT!" she said and hung up.

And so I wore the hat. And wouldn't you know it, about five people complimented me on that damn hat!

Now mothers aren't always right but they sure are right a lot of the time.

My mom's "wear the hat, dammit" admonition was her way to say, "Hey, it's okay to be yourself."

It's also okay to stand out a little.

It's okay to wear color.

It's okay to stretch yourself.

It's okay to try something new.

It's okay to re-invent yourself.

It's okay to have a little fun!

It's okay to stand your ground.

It's okay to stand up for yourself.

It's okay to stand up for your beliefs.

It's okay to make your words heard.

It's okay to draw the line.

It's okay to give in.

It's okay to make room.

It's okay to step onto the grass.

It's okay to make a moment for yourself.

It's okay to have the biggest laugh in the room.

It's okay to let go.

It's okay to hang tight.

It's all okay, it's all okay.

Life lessons from the Kentucky Derby and my mom.

Happy Mother's Day, All

Me, I'm off to dig out that hat.

Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

Alanna Kellogg

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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. But I also love hearing your reactions, your curiosity, even your concerns! When you've made a recipe, I especially love to know how it turned out, what variations you made, what you'll do differently the next time. ~ Alanna